NHR State: Top Performing 15u Forwards
In this article:
This past weekend at NHR State, there was an abundance of talented forwards that displayed great skill. Although there were so many talented prospects, these five bigs had some of the best performances that I saw throughout the weekend. Look…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThis past weekend at NHR State, there was an abundance of talented forwards that displayed great skill. Although there were so many talented prospects, these five bigs had some of the best performances that I saw throughout the weekend. Look out for these guys as they finish out the rest of the summer and move into the high school season next fall.
Max Mogelson– 6’4″ forward- MN Select Altenhofen/Henry Sibley
Max is an intriguing player because he’s got a tall, strong frame and he’s fast. Think of a middle linebacker on the basketball court. On top of his athleticism, he’s got a good set of skills in his bag. In the time I watched him play, he had multiple possessions where he would grab a rebound, push the ball in transition, and either score himself or pass it to an open teammate. He showed how crafty he is around the rim. His big frame allows him to keep opponents in front on the defensive side of the ball. Max’s skill is impressive, but I’d like to see him work on his patience since he had to settle for tough shots and had moments when he forced things.
Jonathan Mekonnen– 6’5″ forward- MN Heat PBJ/Eastview
Jonathan is a really intriguing prospect. He’s already got great length and mobility at his age, but it doesn’t stop there. His leaping ability is very impressive as he can get high off the ground very quickly for a guy his size. This allowed him to block multiple shots, grab a ton of rebounds, and finish well around the rim. He’s confident in his ability around the perimeter and he attacks the rim with strength on his drives. His next step is to add more skill to his repertoire, especially ball-handling wise. He’s fast and strong, but he had a few turnovers because he couldn’t control the ball. He’s going to be a scary sight if he adds that skill to his game since he’s got the athleticism to go coast-to-coast with ease.
Caymen Gebheim– 6’2″ forward- MN Heat Bohrer/Somerset
Caymen may not have the leaping ability of some of the other forwards in his age group, but he makes up for it with his great motor and his understanding of positioning. He’s one of those players that plays every game with the same intensity and energy. He does a good job of rotating over to the weakside to box opponents out when a shot goes up and he has good hands to secure the rebound. He uses his frame to set excellent screens and rolls hard once the ball handler has come off his screen. His touch around the basket was solid and he’s constant in his effort on the offensive glass. I’d like to see him grow more comfortable with stepping out and shooting the ball to add some versatility to his game.
Will Fariss– 6’3″ forward- Team Tyus 2025 Black/Mounds View
Will has great size for a 14u kid playing at the 15u level with Team Tyus, but there’s more to his game than simply being big. He’s a great screener and he’s good at seeking out the opponent to make sure that he makes contact with opponents. He’s got good touch with both hands around the rim and finishes well through contact. And for being a year younger than his competition, his rebounding ability was very impressive. Will showed that he could face up and shoot the ball from 12-15 feet, but his next step is to further his range. If he adds some range to his shot, then he could be excellent in pick and pop situations.
Cal Worley– 6’3″ forward- D1MN Prospects/Minnetonka
Cal has a really strong frame that he uses to bully opponents inside. He does a good job of holding his seal once he gets position inside and he has a great left-handed hook shot that he can shoot when he gets into the paint. He rolls hard off screens and has great hands on the catch. He has good footwork in the post too. His drop-step and pump fake were both effective as he used them to get to the rim for multiple scores. On defense, he does a great job of rotating over from the opposite side to challenge shots and deflect passes. I want to see him develop comfort with turning over his left shoulder. His left hook is so good over his right shoulder that a counter over the other way will open up more options for him in the post.